When and how to use Q methodology to understand perspectives in conservation research

Understanding human perspectives is critical in a range of conservation contexts, for example, in overcoming conflicts or developing projects that are acceptable to relevant stakeholders. The Q methodology is a unique semiquantitative technique used to explore human perspectives. It has been applied for decades in other disciplines and recently gained traction in conservation. This paper helps researchers assess when Q is useful for a given conservation question and what its use involves. To do so, we explained the steps necessary to conduct a Q study, from the research design to the interpretation of results. We provided recommendations to minimize biases in conducting a Q study, which can affect mostly when designing the study and collecting the data. We conducted a structured literature review of 52 studies to examine in what empirical conservation contexts Q has been used. Most studies were subnational or national cases, but some also address multinational or global questions. We found that Q has been applied to 4 broad types of conservation goals: addressing conflict, devising management alternatives, understanding policy acceptability, and critically reflecting on the values that implicitly influence research and practice. Through these applications, researchers found hidden views, understood opinions in depth and discovered points of consensus that facilitated unlocking difficult disagreements. The Q methodology has a clear procedure but is also flexible, allowing researchers explore long‐term views, or views about items other than statements, such as landscape images. We also found some inconsistencies in applying and, mainly, in reporting Q studies, whereby it was not possible to fully understand how the research was conducted or why some atypical research decisions had been taken in some studies. Accordingly, we suggest a reporting checklist.     

Protection from metal toxicity by Hsp40-like protein isolated from contaminated soil using functional metagenomic approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Pollution in the environment due to accumulation of potentially toxic metals results in deterioration of soil and water quality, thus impacting health...     

Biocatalyst physiology and interplay: a protagonist of MFC operation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Microbial fuel cells (MFC) have been foreseen as a sustainable renewable energy resource to meet future energy demand. In the past, several studies...     

In situ formation of bimetallic FeNi nanoparticles on sand through green technology: Application for tetracycline removal

• In situ preparation of FeNi nanoparticles on the sand via green synthesis approach. • Removal of tetracycline using GS-FeNi in batch and column study. • Both reductive degradation and sorption played crucial role the process. • Reusability of GS-FeNi showed about 77.39±4.3% removal on 4th cycle. • TC by-products after interaction showed less toxic as compared with TC. In this study, FeNi nanoparticles were green synthesized using Punica granatum (pomegranate) peel extract, and these nanoparticles were also formed in situ over quartz sand (GS-FeNi) for removal of tetracycline (TC). Under the optimized operating conditions, (GS-FeNi concentration: 1.5% w/v; concentration of TC: 20 mg/L; interaction period: 180 min), 99±0.2% TC removal was achieved in the batch reactor. The removal capacity was 181±1 mg/g. A detailed characterization of the sorbent and the solution before and after the interaction revealed that the removal mechanism(s) involved both the sorption and degradation of TC. The reusability of reactant was assessed for four cycles of operation, and 77±4% of TC removal was obtained in the cycle. To judge the environmental sustainability of the process, residual toxicity assay of the interacted TC solution was performed with indicator bacteria (Bacillus and Pseudomonas) and algae (Chlorella sp.), which confirmed a substantial decrease in the toxicity. The continuous column studies were undertaken in the packed bed reactors using GS-FeNi. Employing the optimized conditions, quite high removal efficiency (978±5 mg/g) was obtained in the columns. The application of GS-FeNi for antibiotic removal was further evaluated in lake water, tap water, and ground water spiked with TC, and the removal capacity achieved was found to be 781±5, 712±5, and 687±3 mg/g, respectively. This work can pave the way for treatment of antibiotics and other pollutants in the reactors using novel green composites prepared from fruit wastes.     

Predicted concentrations of biocides from antifouling paints in Visakhapatnam Harbour

The concentrations of biocides leached from antifouling coatings are monitored in most of the developed countries. However, in India and many other developing countries, there is very little data available on the concentrations of biocides in ports and harbours. The first step was to obtain the order of magnitude levels of concentrations of biocides in the marine environment of the Visakhapatnam Harbour, and the MAM-PEC (Marine Antifoulant Model to Predict Environmental Concentrations) model was used to predict these values. The Visakhapatnam Port lies on the eastern coast of India, roughly halfway between Chennai and Kolkata, and is the largest port in India. This port is a natural harbour; the long and narrow outlet to the open sea makes it a 'poorly flushed' harbour. Predicted concentrations of tributyltin (TBT), copper, dichlofluanid, seanine, irgarol, diuron, tolylfluanid, and zinc pyrithione were computed. The results of the computations indicate that the levels of these biocides are comparable to those in many western countries. This gives credence to the fact that persistence of TBT and some other biocides is a global problem that cannot be ignored.     

Role of Alternative Electron Acceptors (AEA) to control methane flux from waterlogged paddy fields: Case studies in the southern part of West Bengal, India

The rice fields, depleted of O₂, contain large amount of moisture and organic substrates to provide an ideal anaerobic environment for methanogenesis and are one of the principal anthropogenic sources of methane. In order to mitigate this emission Alternative Electron Acceptors (AEA) were altered in the soil. The experiments were carried out in four seasons at the site of Balarampur, near Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, namely September–December, 2005 (Cultivar: Sundari), February–May, 2006 (Cultivar: Sundari), September–December, 2006 and February–May, 2007 (Cultivar: Swarna-Pankaj). The seasonal average methane flux (Fe treated), for the cultivar type “Sundari” (season: September–December, 2005), is 4.41 t ha⁻¹, as compared to the value of 6.40 t ha⁻¹ for the untreated soil. Similarly for February–May, 2006, the seasonal average methane flux (Fe treated) is 5.52 t ha⁻¹, whereas the untreated flux is 5.69 t ha⁻¹. In the third and fourth seasons we had two treatments with Ammonium Thiosulphate and Ferric Hydroxide. The seasonal average methane flux (treatment: Ammonium Thiosulphate) is 4.35 t ha⁻¹ and 5.41 t ha⁻¹ respectively, whereas for the ferric hydroxide treated soil it is 4.35 t ha⁻¹ and 6.14 t ha⁻¹ respectively. The properties related to the nutrient quality of the harvested paddy seeds supplement these results.     

Evaluation of genotoxicity of coal fly ash in Allium cepa root cells by combining comet assay with the Allium test

Fly ash is a by-product of coal-fired electricity generation plants. Its utilization and disposal is of utmost importance. Using onion (Allium cepa) root tip system, the present study was carried out to evaluate the potential toxic and genotoxic effects of fly ash, collected from a thermal power plant in West Bengal, India. Prior to testing, the collected fly ash sample was mixed with sand in different proportions. Allium bulbs were allowed to germinate directly in fly ash and after five days the germinating roots were processed for the Allium test. Additionally, the Allium test was adapted for detecting DNA damage through comet assay. The results from the Allium test indicate that fly ash at 100% concentration inhibits root growth and mitotic indices; induces binucleated cells as a function of the proportion, but is not toxic at very low concentration. In the comet assay, a statistical increase for DNA strand breaks was found only at higher concentrations. The sample was analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometer for Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd and As, whose presence could partly be responsible for the toxicity of fly ash. The study concludes that the classical Allium test can give a more comprehensive data when done in combination with the comet assay, which is faster, simpler and independent of mitosis. Also when fly ash is used for other purposes in combination with soils, it should be judiciously used at very low concentrations in order to protect the ecosystem health from any potential adverse effects.     

Land use patterns and urbanization in the holy city of Varanasi, India: a scenario

Rapid urbanization and increasing land use changes due to population and economic growth in selected landscapes is being witnessed of late in India and other developing countries. The cities are expanding in all directions resulting in large-scale urban sprawl and changes in urban land use. The spatial pattern of such changes is clearly noticed on the urban fringes or city peripheral rural areas than in the city center. In fact, this is reflected in changing urban land use patterns. There is an urgent need to accurately describe land use changes for planning and sustainable management. In the recent times, remote sensing is gaining importance as vital tool in the analysis and integration of spatial data. This study intends to estimate land use pattern in a planned and unplanned urban setup and also to analyze the impact of change in land use pattern in the Varanasi urban environment. The results indicate that the planned urban setup had a higher tree cover to that of unplanned area in the Varanasi City, although a considerable disparity existed within the planned urban setups. The results emphasize the need to critically review concepts of urban planning and give more consideration to the preservation and management of urban tree cover/greenspace.